Infection Control Within Schools

Dr. Ron Cutler, Deputy Head of Biomedical Science, Queen Mary, University of London, answers schools pertinent questions about infections and hygiene management in the February 2010 edition of iE today magazine.

With the cold weather making us more susceptible to picking up winter viruses, and the warm environments of schools enabling germs to thrive, what can we do to avoid school sickness at this time of the year?

We have been speaking to Dr. Ron Cutler; Deputy Head of Biomedical Science, Queen Mary, University of London, about the hygiene measures schools can be putting in place to reduce the threat of infection.

What extra measures can a school take to reduce the level of infection?

Infectious intestinal diseases are common at this time of the year, with 9.4 million estimated cases each year in England, so handling infection control within a school is essential. Educating pupils and staff and encouraging them to practice good hand hygiene can help prevent the spread of infection from child-to-child. Alongside this the school needs to be cleaned regularly to reduce the possibility of infection.

In the event of an infection outbreak, what would you recommend?

An outbreak of communicable disease is defined as two or more cases of disease which are linked by time, place or person. If a child becomes unwell they should be sent home to prevent further spread of infection. The should monitor if anyone, staff member of pupil, starts showing signs of illness and consider sending them home. It may not stop the spread of infection, but it could cut it down.

Is there any communication that the school could send home to parents?

It is always a good idea to mirror the message learned in school at home to ensure that positive messages, such as hand cleaning, are reinforced. At school, children will wash and dry their hands before they eat, after using a toilet or playing outside, so they should do the same at home. Communicating to parents the messages the children have been learning in school will help them to understand the importance of these messages and enable them to continue this good practice with their children.

So, it's clear from Dr. Ron's insight and experience that every school has to be vigilant towards hand hygiene, as well as ensuring that the right education is maintained. Although it is difficult to make sure that every school child washes their hands before and after eating and using the toilet, it is easier to educate them in a fun and interactive way.

Dr. Ron Cutler is supporting the Albany Healthy Schools Programme, designed to help schools improve their hygiene standards and reduce social, economic and environmental impacts. The programme is the perfect, fun solution for school children to truly grasp the seriousness of hand hygiene, which will ultimately help teachers and parents alike.

Albany healthy Schools are passionate about hygiene in schools and you can arrange a FREE hygiene visit today.

About the Author:
Albany Healthy Schools is on a mission to raise school hygiene standards throughout the UK. They aim their services specifically at the education sector to help create more hygienic schools and a healthier learning environment for thousands of pupils. Their holistic approach imparts bespoke hygiene education programmes for pupils, teachers and cleaners with advice on products, school sanitation, and hygiene solutions. For more information visit http://www.albanyhealthyschools.co.uk

Keyword tags: school hygiene, infection control, hand hygiene, hygienic schools